Maurice A Pessot

US Patent:

6816534, Nov 9, 2004

Filed:

May 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/138091

Inventors:

Graham W. Flint - Albuquerque NM
Maurice A. Pessot - San Diego CA
Eric B. Takeuchi - San Diego CA

Assignee:

General Atomics - San Diego CA

International Classification:

H01S 308

US Classification:

372105, 372 92, 372 20

Abstract:

A single frequency filter for a laser, comprising a polarizer that defines a direction of polarization and one or more birefringent elements situated within the cavity with their dielectric axes offset from the direction of polarization. The ends of the birefringent elements have a finite reflectance, and may be coated for reflectance or left uncoated. In some embodiments the filter is situated in a laser cavity with a broadband gain medium, in other embodiments, the filter is situated in an external cavity. To provide tunability, a wavelength control system is coupled to the birefringent element. An embodiment is described in which the filter comprises two birefringent elements of unequal optical length along the optical axis, which advantageously reduces the voltage required to tune the frequency. To provide tunability, the first and second birefringent elements are both coupled to a wavelength control system that simultaneously controls both elements.

US Patent:

20020186742, Dec 12, 2002

Filed:

May 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/138079

Inventors:

Graham Flint - Albuquerque NM, US
Maurice Pessot - San Diego CA, US
Eugene Peressini - San Juan Capistrano CA, US
Eric Takeuchi - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

H01S003/091
H01S003/092
H01S003/08

US Classification:

372/070000, 372/108000, 372/092000

Abstract:

A laser in which the laser emission is autocoupled into an optical fiber. The laser cavity is insensitive to misalignment; i.e. it will oscillate if the optical fiber is positioned within an allowed volume determined by a degenerate resonator configuration. In one embodiment, a solid state laser includes two ball lenses arranged on opposing sides of the gain medium. The degenerate resonator configuration is defined on one end by a reflectively-coated outer surface of the ball lens. The other end is approximately defined by an allowed volume on the outer surface of the second ball lens. To provide a laser cavity the reflective end of the optical fiber is situated within the allowed volume. The laser may be end-pumped using a fiber-coupled laser diode, and the ball lens is used to focus the pump beam into the gain medium. The reflective end may be provided by a Bragg grating.

US Patent:

57086729, Jan 13, 1998

Filed:

Jan 29, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/593251

Inventors:

Maurice A. Pessot - San Diego CA
David E. Hargis - La Jolla CA

Assignee:

Laser Power Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

H01S 310

US Classification:

372 23

Abstract:

A dual wavelength continuous wave (cw) solid state microlaser device that provides simultaneous laser action at a first and a second wavelength. The laser comprises a solid state gain material including a rare earth element having a first gain transition at the first wavelength and a second gain transition at the second wavelength. The gain material defines a block having a first face and a second, opposite face. A first reflective surface that is substantially reflective at both the first and second wavelengths is closely coupled to the first face. An output coupler provides a second reflective surface that is partially reflective at both the first and the second wavelengths, which is oriented with respect to the first reflective face to define an optical cavity through the first and second faces of the solid state gain material. An optical pump source is provided to end pump the solid state gain material with continuous pump radiation at a pump wavelength that is highly absorptive by the gain material. In some embodiments, the first reflective surface may be formed directly on the first face of the solid state gain material, and the second reflective surface may be formed directly on the second face of the solid state gain material.

US Patent:

58020861, Sep 1, 1998

Filed:

Jan 29, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/593094

Inventors:

David E. Hargis - La Jolla CA
Maurice A. Pessot - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Laser Power Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

H01S 310

US Classification:

372 22

Abstract:

A composite cavity continuous wave (cw) microlaser that lases at two fundamental wavelengths, denoted by. lambda. sub. 1 and. lambda. sub. 2, which are frequency-mixed in a suitable nonlinear crystal oriented within an optically resonant cavity for phase-matched frequency mixing to generate radiation at a third wavelength. The optically resonant cavity is defined by a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, both of which are substantially reflective at a first and a second wavelength. A highly absorbing solid-state gain material, preferably Nd:YVO. sub. 4, which has a first gain transition at the first wavelength and a second gain transition at the second wavelength different from the first wavelength is disposed within the optically resonant cavity. The highly absorbing solid-state gain material is closely coupled to the first reflective surface to promote single mode operation of both fundamental lasing frequencies. An optical pump source is optically coupled through the first reflective face to end-pump the solid-state gain material with continuous pump radiation at a pump wavelength that is highly absorptive by the gain material.

US Patent:

49187511, Apr 17, 1990

Filed:

Oct 5, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/104749

Inventors:

Maurice Pessot - Rochester NY
Gerard A. Mourou - Rochester NY

Assignee:

The University of Rochester - Rochester NY

International Classification:

H04B 900

US Classification:

455608

Abstract:

A method for transmitting high energy subpicosecond pulses through single-mode optical fiber without stimulating nonlinear effects as are caused by self-phase modulation or Raman generation, which method increases the average power handling capacity of the fiber. The optical pulses, which may be modulated to carry data, as by pulse code modulation, are increased in temporal width before launching into the fiber. The output pulses from the fiber are compressed. Since the nonlinear effects are related to the peak power of the pulses, these effects are avoided while increasing the average power and allowing the use of the available bandwidth of the fiber thereby enabling greater data transmission rates.